Notes from Norway

[Ian Y]

Trond, I am among  the many people who are enjoying your notes and images , such lovely wild places are a joy to see even in pictures.
I had the pleasure of exploring an area in the North of Norway east of Tromso some years ago and would love to see more one day.
Thank you for sharing.

[Hoy]

Robert,

Eiríkr rauði (Eirik Thorvaldsson) was born in Jæren (not far from where I live) about 1065 years ago. (He was married to my second cousin 29 times removed )

His father Thorvald Åsvaldsson was outlawed in 960AD and moved to Iceland where Eirik was outlawed for 3 years in about 982 when he went to explore Greenland. In those days you had to fight for your rights but sometimes people was killed in the quarrels. The society had laws and the Thing could convict you to outlawry. The usual punishment for manslaughter was to be convicted outlaw for 3 years. As an outlaw you had no rights and anybody could kill you.

Eirik investigated Greenland (which was well known but not habited by anyone, not even Eskimos) during his 3 year sentence and found the land very good and habitable. Back in Iceland he recruited many Icelanders and Norwegians to move. 25 ships with men, women, children, livestock and all you need for the household went about 985AD but only 15 made the journey. Although the land was productive they lacked timber and iron and had to get that from Norway and also from America. About 200-300 farms were built at Austrbygda and about 100 in Vesterbygda with more than 4000 people altogether. The settlements lasted for more than 400 years. The last recorded visit there was in 1480.

[Hoy]

Ian,

Glad you like it! It is a pleasure for me too   (I enjoy your bulb logs!)

I have "explored" the county of Troms when I was doing my military service many, many years ago But later I have visited the Archipelagos of Lofoten and Vesterålen which are very scenic and also have a nice flora.

You are welcome back any time though (and bring your wife )!

[Robert]

Trond,


I enjoyed that bit of history. My wife did correct me, she read that the sailors and others drank 15 pints of mead a day back then! Since I never drink, something like that would kill me!

I am looking forward to your next set of photographs!

[Tim Ingram]

At the Czech Conference in May 2013 we were told quite a lot about the Vikings! It seems as though they are still alive and well, if a bit more sober than they used to be!! Wonderful stories Trond and lovely picture of the cotton-grass as well as many other plants; brings back great memories of a short holiday in Norway with two good friends back in the 1980's. Look forward to an Alpine Conference at Tromso with a field trip to Svalbard - that would be something special!

[Maggi Young]

That particular Viking is coming to the SRGC Discussion Weekend  this year, Tim - Kai Andersen- with Minna too.
And  friends just off to Tromso are hoping to see the second (Czech) Viking, Martin  Hajman !

[Hoy]

Robert,

I think they needed that much mead to swallow all the salt meat and fish!

[Hoy]

The Czech Viking has a wrong helmet - they didn't have horns - except maybe in some rituals




A conference in Tromsø with a field trip (for at least a week) to Svalbard had been something!





Svalbard poppy Papaver dahlianum

[Hoy]

The yellow mountain saxifrage (Saxifraga aizoides) started blooming last week - a bit late. And they are not all yellow!










Small tortoiseshell on an Arnica montana

[Hoy]

A few plants from our meadow:

Campanula barbata, native but not local. Self seeds in the short grass.






Goldenrod Solidago virgaurea, very common and very variable from 5cm tall in the mountains to 80cm in the woods.




Arnica without butterfly




Parnassia palustris

[Hoy]

The last pictures from the mountain cabin this time.

Pyrola minor - not as showy as the next one!




Pyrola norvegica or rotundifolia. Both are common in the birch and spruce wood around the cabin.




Rosa majalis Very late this year.




Fallen log with Lycopodium annotinum.




Mountain spruce forest.

[Robert]

Trond,

Where is the mountain spruce forest?

This is what I imagined Norway to be like. Many of you other photographs show scenes that are much different - very open with few or no trees at all. Or very different types of trees. Is it elevation? Topography? or many factors that account for the difference?

We have our version of Parnassia here in California. I have not come across any this season. They are not rare, I just have not seen any.

[Hoy]

Robert,

About 30% of Norway is covered by forests, the rest is either above the timberline or too far north, or at the coast.
Norway spruce (Picea abies) make up about 50%, scots pine (Pinus sylvestris 30% and 20% deciduous trees, mostly birch (Betula pubescens and pendula).

The picture of the mountain spruce forest (it is not a species but an ecotype) is from between Veggli in Buskerud county and Tinnsjøen in Telemark county.

It is many factors that account for the type of forest. Temperature is the most important but also precipitation. Usually birch and spruce make up the montane forest types but also pine where it is drier. Temperate species like oak, linden, ash, beech and elm grow only at the valley bottoms, in southfacing screes along the fjords and along the coast of South Norway.

[Robert]

Trond,

This information helps. Somehow I had the idea that Norway was more like 80% forested, at least in the south, as pictured (mountain spruce forest). I will have to readjust my thinking.

I have been trying to put together a map based on the site names you have given. If I can get this to work for me I will have a better understand of how things are. Or at least the best I can from several thousand miles away.

[Hoy]

Robert,

I don't make it easy for you by jumping here and there and not telling where I am!


Here are some examples - but I realized when you asked that I have no pictures of that kind of forest which I spent most time in my youth


Here are but a few examples of forests:


Sør-Trøndelag not far from the border (Sweden) spruce and pine.










When the pines grow at the treeline: